Broncos Grant Griese OK to Pursue Trade

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, February 25, 2003

The Denver Broncos gave Brian Griese permission to pursue a trade on Wednesday, all but ensuring the embattled quarterback will not be back with the team.

Griese's agent, Ralph Cindrich, said Griese didn't ask for permission, but that it was granted as a courtesy by coach Mike Shanahan.

"They've had a good relationship, even though it hasn't worked the way both would have liked," Cindrich said. "There's still a very strong and healthy mutual respect. I don't think there's any question that Mike feels Brian will do well and, outwardly and inwardly, he is rooting for him to do well."

The Broncos were expected to release Griese on June 1 in a cost-cutting move and have expressed interest in Arizona's Jake Plummer, who is likely to become a free agent on Friday.

Releasing Griese before June 1 would have cost the Broncos $9.2 million against the salary cap in 2003. The figure drops to $2.5 million if he's released after that, but jumps back to $6.9 million in 2004.

Cindrich said a trade will depend largely on whether teams are willing to pick up the rest of Griese's salary.

"There are many teams that would be very interesting," Cindrich said. "But, of course, if that were to happen the compensation payable to the Broncos would be a factor and they would have to weigh that with the tremendous cap hit they would take."

Griese's future in Denver came into doubt on Christmas when the team announced Steve Beuerlein would start the season finale against Arizona. The somber news conference capped an up-and-down season for Griese.

Griese was nearly benched late in the opener against St. Louis, but rebounded to lead Denver to victory in the fourth quarter. He was solid over the next seven games, but missed two games after spraining his left knee against Seattle on Nov. 17.

Griese threw a critical interception late against the New York Jets in his return on Dec. 8, then had a quarterback rating of 14.2 before being injured in the second quarter of a loss to Oakland two weeks later.

He finished the season with 3,214 yards, 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, but was dejected and questioned his future after learning Beuerlein would start against the Cardinals.

Cindrich said there was little doubt the Broncos were looking to unload Griese.

"I don't have a specific answer, but if I were to say in percentages it would be in the high 90s," Cindrich said. "That's fairly well understood. It's hard to bring a starter back in those circumstances."

Griese had surgery on Jan. 29 to repair a torn labrum and tighten the capsule on his non-throwing shoulder. He is going through rehabilitation at the team's practice facility and is expected to be fully recovered by the end of May.

Griese was Denver's third-round draft pick in 1998 and took over for John Elway the next season.

He went to the Pro Bowl in 2000 after throwing 19 touchdowns and four interceptions, the second-best ratio in league history, but followed with 19 interceptions in 2001.